Step 18 - Monitoring & Auditing OHS Management System   

Step 19 - Research OHS Record Keeping   

 

These responsibilities extend, as far as reasonably practicable, to your research staff and students working in facilities that are not under your direct control. For example during research-related travel or fieldwork, or when the research is conducted in another UNSW, Australian or overseas laboratory, you should seek assurance that safe systems of work and adequate supervision are in place.

 

Identify the range of inspection, testing and monitoring functions that are necessary to ensure the health, safety and welfare of your research staff and students. The type and frequency of inspection, testing and monitoring required is dependent on the work environment, the types of research activities, and the substances, plant and equipment that are used.

 

Inspection, testing and monitoring activities that impact on building, premises or electrical safety are often coordinated through the School or Research Centre OHS Representative or Committee. As supervisor you should seek assurance that the activities have been planned and are being conducted according to schedule. You should also notify your OHS Representative or Committee of the inspection, testing and monitoring requirements for your research and have them recorded in the School/Centre annual plan.

 

University procedure requires that a competent person undertake all necessary inspection, testing and monitoring activities and that corrective action must be undertaken to remedy any identified hazards and risks.

 

Examples of inspection, testing and monitoring relevant to research include the following:

 

The following is a brief guide to managing hazardous waste in your research:

 

OHS & Workers Compensation coordinates a university-wide program of auditing implementation of UNSW OHS Management System. Schools and Research Centres may also conduct local OHS system monitoring and auditing, for example through their Workplace OHS Committee.

 

Your role as project supervisor is to:

 

 

 

Research records should be stored and maintained in accordance with the university's code of research practice, which requires the School or Research Centre to establish research records retention and storage procedures appropriate for the discipline.

 

Research OHS records include, but are not limited to:

 

As project supervisor you should ensure that your research OHS records are legible and maintained in an accessible manner in accordance with UNSW and local procedure. Such records may be required for audit purposes and also represent a valuable source of evidence of safe work system in case of future work-related illness or incident investigation.